When I met my wife she drove a muscle car. Specifically this 1964 Mercury Marauder. It looked for all the world like a dolled up version of the car Parnelli Jones used to win the 1963 Pikes Peak race. We ran all over east Texas in that car. A combination of leaky steering hydraulics and her being able to drive my Lincoln Town Car wound up with it getting parked. One thing and another and in time it wouldn’t run.
You would think that after 20 years of teaching in the public school system that I would be able to pick out a kid telling an untruth from a mile away. My wife and I have 22 grandkids and great grandkids. That’s another reason for being able to recognize something that smells like diapers. So along comes this kid playing on our feelings by telling us about his new baby and how he wanted to build the Marauder that was in our yard. We took his story and his cash and the car went away.
This picture is of the Mercury in my yard during the cluttered period when I was still teaching and the class was going to build a reverse trike. Just wanted to show the car in the yard no matter how bad the yard. I’m a natural slob but things did improve. The trike was built and although it made a fine workbench the Mercury is gone. If it was still here I wouldn’t be writing this.
Near my home is a lot that specializes in selling classic cars. Not parts, just cars. I have yet to see anything there that I thought would run. One day I was headed someplace and was startled to see a familiar shape sitting inside the gate to said yard.
The kid is a free lancer for this yard. We had tried to sell the Merc a couple times to people who wanted to rebuild it. This kid got Mamas attention by selling a lot of soft soap. I am encouraged by the fact that it is in a place that specializes in selling whole cars. I hope someone gets it that wants to play with it. The car has a 390 with a 2bbl and automatic. It was a blast to drive but it would have helped to own a gas station. Would hate to see it parted out or sold for scrap.
When you combine two homes there is an excess of everything. You can’t keep it all but some things are just harder to part with than others. We did drive the Merc and also the 57 Chev quite a bit. Neither were bought with some dream of restoration. When you retire, you get the fun of making choices as to where your dollar goes. There are normally fewer of them to allocate. I doubt that Merc was ever going to run again for us.
I’m glad this place has the car. Hope he sells it and his business model is successful. In my mind it sure beats turning them into razor blades. I just wish he hadn’t lied.
This place is just around the corner from the Bird Sematary. The yard has been there for a couple years but I have seen less traffic there lately. Probably the economy. On the other hand, possibly the business ethics he used on us were not isolated.
The 64 Marauder is one of my favorite 60s cars, but you sure never saw that many around. I liked the 60-64 big Ford platform anyway just for its durabiliity. With the right engine (not a 292 or 352) they were great cars. Most of the Mercuries you saw were Breezeway sedans. I always really liked the lines on the Marauder 2 door, and the interiors were nicer than in the Galaxie as well. This one looks great in black.
I had a 67 Galaxie with the 2 bbl 390 and the Cruise-O-Matic and it was pretty good on gas on the highway if you stayed near the speed limit. But on one of these, a 4 bbl 390 and a 4 speed would be my choice.
An aunt and uncle owned a 64 Galaxie 4 door hardtop from about 1967 to 1972. It got the snot beat out of it by my teenaged cousins, but it kept on chugging. Other than the rusty rear quarters, the body integrity on these was very, very good.
Hey i have a 64 marauder and i love it. bittersweet, 390 P code motor, rebuilt and fun to drive. Zero to 40 ok …. 40 to 90 it flys. Over 90 you’re on your own
That car looks pretty solid, so I’m betting someone will give it the respect it deserves and keep it in one piece. It sounds like the young man you sold it to has a promising future in politics….
Still lovin this car – have had it for about 8 years
Lee- whereabouts is this at?
If the kid does nothing with it and unloads it cheap, I’d be down there in a nanosecond with my pickup, a uhaul trailer, and a stack of Benjamins.
Road trip!
Boca Raton, FL
It spent most of its life in New Mexico (no rust anywhere)
In 1964, I had a an intense (but short) crush on the 1964 Marauder. I had seen ads that got me started, and then there was one in the tiny three-car showroom of the L-M dealer, and I spent some lovely hours sitting in it, and took home the brochure for extended MM sessions at home. I can still see the brochure in front of my eyes.
I’d love to have a original Marauder to go with my 3rd gen, and it would have to be black like this one so they matched.
Important thing is…you still own the ’57 Handyman!
It’s on the US59 feeder road just south of Splendora Texas. Unfortunately there doesn’t seem to be anyone in attendance most of the time. I have no clue how much the unloading fee will be because the kid was a freelancer for this guy at the lot. Blowing up the photo of the merc (with the sign) it looks like Old___ Classic Cars and I expect that phone number to be prefix 281 number 788-7097 but I recommend you enlarge and read for yourself. Cataracts have taken their toll.
I can tell you though that the outside is good but the inside suffered from deteriorated rubber in the windows. Therefore, the upholstery is gone. It sure was fun to drive and I sure don’t feel good about it setting so long. And Yes Chas. You will have to pry the chevy from my cold dead fingers. Unless you happen to be my son and are able to do right by it. I keep waiting for that.
I hope you get it roadworthy again soon.
Mine is still a few years away. As I type this, a crew is finishing the siding on my house…three weeks ago we got a new roof…a new staircase is going in and progress is finally beginning on the second floor. I’m doing whatever I can on my own and hiring out the rest.
My hope is that 2013 is finally the year we can get to the vehicles. The ’68 C-10 will come first as that will be daily (but classy) transportation but I’ll do what I can to make progress on my Handyman so when it’s finally time to devote full attention to it, it won’t take ’til I’m 70 to finish. (I’m 55 now).
One of the things that slows down starting on the 57 is that it will probably not take much more than a new battery, an oil change, and cleaning the fuel system. I have parts inside it that will go on it but it’s pretty much ready to run. I used it to drive to work when I still taught but turned my back on it when I inherited my wifes car with radio and AC. Traded 13mpg for 30 but it was a bad trade.
I hope I stay on task instead of side tracking myself with another EV. ADHD is a bummer.
My father had a 1964 Breezeway Merc, but if I had been in charge back then, THAT Marauder would have been the weapon of choice… Oh well…
No problem with the interior. I’d just have the factory pattern duplicated in either real leather or heavy duty marine-grade vinyl. Only thing I’d change is replace the plain 14″ steel wheels with some similar 15s.
Keep me posted.
Serious question- how does one become a poster here? I’d love to submit articles regarding a few of my own rides.
Just let us know! You can use the Contact form at the top of the page.
The kid has yet to learn where the truth can do stuff better than lies. I hope he learns it without getting into a lot of trouble, so to speak. I’ve known some cases where doing such a thing can get one’s head to come into contact with hot, fast metal (imagine you’re Walt Kowalski and we’re talking about that Gran Torino).
I hope CC does a story on the ’70 Mercury Marauder X-100. An uncle had one of these with the 360 hp 429 since new and it was sold when he died a few years ago. I imagine it’s still running around Clarksburg, WV today. I loved that car.
Your wish is our command (although at the risk of worsening Paul Niedermeyer’s Ford Flashback condition today): http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2010/12/curbside-classic-the-bootylicious-1970-mercury-marauder-x-100/
Apparently the Marauder X-100 is the same thing as a ’70 Galaxie XL coupe. I didn’t make the connection until I went to TTAC. No wonder I liked my ’73 Galaxie 500 2 door so much!
I have 4 ’64 Marauders. All fastbacks. I’m now nearing 60 (gettin old) , I drove one to High School. It was my Dad’s work car & I bought it from him. He bought a 68 Mustang. Later got that too. Lost my virginity at the old Howland drive in in that Beautiful Merc. AHHHH, the memories. Cool part about these cars (like the Galaxies)(Have 3 ’63 Galaxies) is that You can do almost anything with them. They respond GREAT to suspension mods, and You can bolt a 460 or bigger right in them. I have 1 with a 494 stroker. AWESOME CARS.
I want all the 1963 Mercury Marauder and I loved it person hang on to it for a while and now I cannot find it I would love to get myself another one I think they are great project cars and they are fun to drive
My name is Jan and I live in the Netherlands, Europe.
I have three Mercury Marauders, two 1964 and one 1965.
I never saw a car more beautiful then these Mercs.
Now there is a 1964 Park Lane on its way to me.
I cannot wait to get it frome the Rotterdam harbour.
i will let you guys know when it arrives.